Umm al-Fahm residents, including a minor, arrested on suspicion of planning shooting attack on holy site; terrorists also considered attacking Christians on Christmas.

Yoav Zitun|Published: 02.26.18 , 21:13

Three Israeli Arabs were indicted Tuesday for planning to carry out a shooting attack on the Temple Mount after an investigation revealed that two of them supported the Islamic State, and that the attack was intended to be carried out as part of their support of the terror group.

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According to the Shin Bet investigation, the three planned to carry out a shooting attack at the compound similar to that which had been perpetrated on July 14 last year which claimed the lives
of two Israeli Border Police officers.

2 of the Umm al-Fahem residents were indicted for terrorism (Photo: Ido Erez)

The attack was prevented thanks to precise intelligence that allowed the three to be arrested before they could obtain weapons and carry out their plan.

The investigation also showed the three had entertained the idea of carrying out attacks in synagogues and churches or against security forces. They also considered carrying out a vehicular attack and marked Christmas as the potential date for their bloodletting.

The Shin Bet said in a statement that it considered "Israelis supporting the Islamic State terror group a serious threat, and even more so those in contact with the group's activists and those who act under the group's banner in Israel.

"The Shin Bet will continue monitoring the suspects and take whichever law enforcement measures are required to prevent the dissemination of the Islamic State's teachings in Israel, as well as to foil any action against the country's security."